| The move to Voice over Internet Protocol (or | | | | SecurityA potential breach in security that |
| VoIP) has grown in popularity so to have the | | | | many companies ignore at their peril is |
| security issues that surround VoIP | | | | internal traffic flowing over a VoIP |
| systems.Security issues are now a major | | | | system.It is critical this is addressed and |
| concern of companies thinking about changing | | | | secured as well.An increasing number of |
| to a VoIP system.Vunerability to attackVoIP | | | | workers use voIP to communicate with company |
| is internet based and this creates the | | | | staff from wireless phones or soft phones and |
| problem of being open to all the attacks that | | | | this creates a serious potential security |
| are associated with this method of | | | | problem.Therefore companies should look to |
| communication.It opens up the telephone | | | | encrypt voIP traffic moving internally over a |
| network to attacks from hackers, who could | | | | corporate network to prevent attacks from |
| infiltrate and listen to phone conversations | | | | within the company itself.The increasing use |
| and steal confidential data, and Spammers | | | | of desktop-based soft phones to make and |
| have the opportunity to target a system with | | | | receive VOIP-based telephone calls creates a |
| denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.Before making | | | | breach in firewall security that of course |
| the move to VoIP, companies need to | | | | can be exploited by unscrupulous |
| thoroughly acquaint themselves with the | | | | employees.The best way to address this |
| security issues surrounding this new | | | | problem as we have said, is to restrict |
| technology and plan protection in | | | | access to the network.In addition, make sure |
| advance.VoIP networks are threatened with the | | | | all inbound VOIP traffic that flows through a |
| same security risks as traditional IP data | | | | firewall is routed through a gateway server, |
| networks and similar meashures need to be | | | | thus eliminating a direct connection to the |
| taken to add protection and | | | | Internet and all the security issues this |
| security.Protecting a VoIP System,Companies | | | | entails.Securing a VoIP System.Many corporate |
| should adopt a multi layer security strategy | | | | users are discouraged from using VoIP systems |
| to secure their VoIP systems.This can be done | | | | as they feel they are not secure however, |
| by dividing the network into secure zones | | | | this is the same as saying it is not safe to |
| adding protection with firewalls and | | | | use a computer connected to the internet, it |
| intrusion prevention techniques.A company | | | | can be secured its up to companies and |
| should in fact secure the network itself by | | | | individuals to do soSecuring VoIP systems is |
| putting in place layers of security to | | | | like securing any IP network.Just as you |
| protect at all levels including:Telephones, | | | | protect your PC with virus software, |
| conversations, computers, and servers.A | | | | firewalls etc so to should you protect a |
| specific method of authentication | | | | VoIP system with similar meashures.VoIP can |
| (encryption) should be standard as to should | | | | and is secure, providing adequate steps are |
| control access ( by passwords and | | | | taken.Security is a network issue as |
| firewalls)Companies should always look to | | | | wellSecurity is not a server issue it's a |
| encrypt data sent for confidentiality, and | | | | network issue and companies can achieve |
| use call software to establish a tracking of | | | | security by placing the above measures in |
| calls for all employees, to create | | | | place to make their VoIP system secure just |
| accountability of information sent.Internal | | | | as they do with an IP network. |